Sheep Or Goat? Wheat Or Tare?
Introduction
3 John
It's amazing how many illustrations the bible gives showing the difference between the saved and the lost. Let's look at a few just to get a glimpse of what I'm saying and where this text is going. Luke 6:44-45; Matthew 12:34-37; I John 1:6; I John 2:4. I believe the bible says we have some pretty reliable signs who is going to heaven and who isn't. Am I the final judge? Of course not! However, let me assure you that we're leaving a mark of spirituality everywhere we go.
I. John's Exhortation
Verse 11
A. Don't Follow A Bad Example
"...follow not that which is evil..." vs. 11. There's a real problem here. Saved people can get sucked into a bad plan. Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Watch what the teacher does, not what he says. Our lips are deceptive.
Let me ask you something, how many times has someone got you upset with someone who's done nothing to you? That's not God! How many times have you been mad at someone for something someone told you that you didn't like? That's not God! How many times have you had aught against your brother and told everyone except him? That's not God! We have a command from God ...follow not that which is evil... or evil people. The implication here is that they probably aren't even saved as this is in reference to Diotrephes. Not only do we see don't follow a bad example, but also follow a biblical example.
B. Follow A Biblical Example
"...but that which is good..." vs. 11. ...good... forgiving, understanding, loving, building each other up. For every situation in life there is a biblical example.
Prayer
Matthew 6:1, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."
Money
Matthew 6:19, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal."
Anxiety
Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?"
Judging
Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
Relationships
Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
Forgiveness
Matthew 5:44, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." And Matthew 18:21-22, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Matthew 7:16, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Based on these scriptures many of us follow the wrong things. If I know you by your fruits what do I know?" Matthew 7:13-26. Two gates, two trees, two professions, two builders.
Here's the thought; there's not three of anything except the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the three days and nights Jesus stayed in the tomb. You take these two 3's, add them all up and you'll get one way of life! Not only do we see John's exhortation but also John's illustration.
II. John's Illustration
A The Identity Of The Saint
"...He that doeth good is of God..." vs. 11. This is plain and simple. If your life measures up to good from a scriptural point of view, you've got Him. This isn't talking about socially good. It's talking about spiritually good. All the things we mentioned in Matthew. It's an articular present action participle. The works are carefully articulated according to God's design for our spiritual lives. We noticed not only the identity of the saint, but also the identity of the sinner.
B. The Identity Of The Sinner
"...but he that doeth evil hath not seen God," vs. 11. It's plain to me that mean people, people who purposely disobey God's word, have not seen God's perfect plan for them. They're either missing God's salvation or missing God's perfect will for their lives. Listen! God's character is not evil, His will is not evil and His ways are not evil. So how come church members say they're of God while they're being evil? Diotrephes hadn't seen God's plan and was probably not saved. God said Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith... II Corinthians 13:5. Have you examined yourself?